Pyridylpyrimidines, a process for their preparation and their use in liquid-crystalline mixtures

ABSTRACT

A pyridylpyrimidine compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which A is N and B is CH or A is CH and B is N 
     C is N and D is CH or C is CH and D is N, 
     R 1  is, for example, chiral or achiral alkyl having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, 
     R 2  is, for example, , R 1 , 
     X 1 , X 2  are F, Cl or CN, and 
     n, m are 0, 1 or 2, 
     are components which are suitable for liquid-crystalline mixtures since they result in LC displays having favorable properties.

The unusual combination of anisotropic and fluid behavior of liquid crystals has led to their use in a large number of electrooptical switching and display devices. In these devices, their electrical, magnetic, elastic and/or thermal properties can be utilized for changes in orientation. Optical effect can then be achieved, for example, by means of birefringence, incorporation of dichroitically absorbing dyemolecules ("guest/host mode") or light scattering.

In order to satisfy the ever increasing demands in practice in the wide range of areas of application, there is a constant need for novel improved liquid crystal mixtures and thus also for a large number of mesogenic compounds of different structure. This is not only true of the areas in which nematic LC phases (for example TN="twisted nematic", STN="supertwisted nematic", SBE="supertwisted birefringence effect", ECB="electrically controlled birefringence") are used but also of those having smectic LC phases (for example ferroelectric and electroclinic ones). Many of the compounds suitable for LC mixtures can be described by a structuring principle (see, for example, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 4736 (1986), structure I; Science 231, 350 (1986, FIG. 1 A; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108,5210 (1986), FIG. 3) in which rings composed of cyclic compounds--aromatics, heteroaromatics, but also saturated ring systems--are linked to alkyl side chains which are straight-chain or substituted in the chain by small groups (for example methyl, chlorine) and thus are branched.

The use of pyrimidine compounds as components of liquid crystal mixtures is disclosed, for example, in

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,713,197, 4,725,688, 4,752,414, 4,765,924, 4,776,977, 4,804,759, 4,812,258, 4,820,839, 4,892,679, 4,906,401 and 4,906,752.

Similar pyridine compounds also to be used in liquid crystal mixtures are disclosed, for example, in EP-B 242,716, EP-B 240,320, EP-A 391,203, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,765,924 and 4,952,335.

Liquid crystal mixtures containing pyridylpyrimidines of the formula (A) are described in JP-A 61280489 as compounds exhibiting nematic mesophases or exerting a favorable effect on nematic liquid crystal mixture. ##STR2## (R is C₁₋₁₀ -alkyl or -alkyloxy; R¹ is H,Cl,F; R² is F,Cl,CN,C₁₋₁₀ -alkyl or alkyloxy)

Pyrimidinylpyrimidines of the formula (B) were presented by B. Kampa, K. D. Scherf and H. Zaschke, (7th Liquid Crystal Conference of Socialist Countries, 1987, Parduvice, CSFR; E-8). ##STR3##

Binuclear representatives exhibit none or only a monotropic smectic phase, while trinuclear compounds exhibit S_(E) and/or S_(A) phases.

The object of the present invention is to provide novel mesogenic compounds which can be combined with other components to give LC mixtures having advantageous properties. This object is achieved by the compounds defined below:

Liquid-crystalline pyridylpyrimidine compounds of the formula (I) ##STR4## in which A is N and B is CH or A is CH and B is N,

C is N and D is CH or C is CH and D is N,

R¹ is straight-chain or branched (chiral or achiral) alkyl having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, it also being possible for one or two non-adjacent --CH₂ -- groups to be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO--, --CO--O--, --O--CO-- or --O--CO--O-- and it also being possible for one H to be replaced by F, or is one of the following radicals OCF₃, OCHF₂, ##STR5## or R¹⁰ --E--M--, with the proviso that if A is N, R¹ must not be linked with the pyrimidine via a --CO--O-- or --O--CO--O-- group,

R² is identical to R¹, with the proviso that if D is N, the radicals R¹ linked to the pyridine ring via an --O--CO-- or an --O--CO--O-- group are excluded,

X¹, X² are F, Cl, CN, preferably F,

n,m, identical or different, are zero, 1 or 2, preferably zero,

R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ are H, straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in which a --CH₂ -- group not adjacent to the linkage point can also be replaced by --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO-- or

R³ and R⁴ or R⁵ and R⁶ together are cyclic alkyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms,

R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ are straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in which one or two non-adjacent --CH₂ -- groups can also be replaced by --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--, with the proviso that silicon is only bound to a carbon which has hydrogen and/or carbon as neighboring atoms, or are cyclic alkyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, or together with silicon can also be ##STR6## G is straight-chain or branched alkylene having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenylene having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in which one or two non-adjacent --CH₂ -- groups can also be replaced by --O--, --S--, --O--CO--, --CO--O--, --S--CO-- or --CO--S--, with the proviso that silicon is only bound to a carbon atom which has hydrogen and/or carbon atoms as neighboring atoms,

R¹⁰ is identical to R¹ but is not R¹⁰ --E--M and is not restricted by the abovementioned proviso,

E is 1,4-phenylene in which 1 or 2 H can also be replaced by F, Cl and/or CN, trans-1,4-cyclohexylene in which 1 or 2 H can also be replaced by F, Cl, CN and/or CH₃, pyrazine-2,5-diyl, pyridazine-3,6-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-diyl, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl or 1,3-dithiane-2,5-diyl; preferably 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene,

M is --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --CO--S--, --S--CO--, --CH₂ --, --C═C--, --CH═CH-- or a single bond,

o is an integer from 3 to 8.

Preference is given to those compounds in which R¹ and R², identical or different, are linear or branched alkyl, alkyloxy or alkyldimethylsilyalkyl(oxy) of the formula R⁷ --Si(CH₃)₂ --G or correspond to one of the optically active groups listed above. Furthermore, preference is given to compounds in which one of the two radicals R¹ or R² is trans-alkylcyclohexylcarbonyloxy.

Particular preference is given to pyridylpyrimidine compounds of the formulae (II) and (III) and (IIIa) ##STR7## R¹ and R² having the abovementioned meaning.

The compounds according to the invention are particularly distinguished by the fact that they exhibit broad smectic C phase ranges and low melting points.

Moreover, in most cases, the compounds according to the invention also contain, apart from the additionally smectic C phases, smectic A phases, which are required in mixtures suitable for practical application for achieving good orientation.

They can be produced by standard reactions known per se, which in general involve reaction of a reactive pyridine derivative with a bifunctional electrophilic compound to give a pyrimidine system (condensation) for example by the route shown in scheme 1: ##STR8##

6-Chloronicotinic acid is converted in several steps to 6-octyloxynicotinonitrile. Amidine formation in the usual manner gives 6-octyloxynicotinamidine hydrochloride. Condensation with a dimethylaminoacroiein derivative leads to pyridylpyrimidine (IV), S¹ being R¹ or a protective group, such as benzyloxy, trialkylsilyloxy, tetrahydropyranyloxy, acyloxy, benzylthio or another suitable protective group listed in "T. W. Greene, Protective Groups in Organic Systems, Wiley (1981) or a hydroxy group. The protective groups can be cleaved off by the methods recommended in the same reference.

Pyridylpyrimidines of the formula (V) where S² is identical to or different from S¹ can be obtained, starting with, for example, 5-hydroxy-2-methylpyridine, which is first oxidized to the carboxylic acid. Continuation of the synthesis via nitrile and amidine takes place by customary methods [for example, H. Foerster and J. Walker, J.Chem.Soc. 1948, 1939 and H. Zaschke and H. Schubert, J. Prakt. Chem. 312, 494 (1970) and ibid. 315, 113 (1973)]. ##STR9##

Compounds of the formula (VI) where X¹ is F or Cl can be synthesized as follows, ##STR10## by condensing a pyridylamidine with a 2-(ethoxymethylene)carboxylic ester derivative, for example by the method of A. Boller et al. Z. Naturforsch. 33b, 433-438 (1978). The 4-hydroxy group on the pyrimidine ring can then be exchanged for chlorine or fluorine by reaction with POCl₃ or diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST).

In order to obtain a compound where X¹ is CN, the hydroxy intermediate where X¹ is Br, which is produced analogously to the chloro compound, is reacted with copper cyanide in a suitable solvent such as N-methylpyrrolidone. Ethers of the formula (I) can, if the ether structure was not already present before formation of the heterocycle, be prepared from phenols of the formulae (IV), (V) or (VI) where S¹ or S² is OH or O-alkali metal by reaction with monofunctionally reactive alkyl halides or alkenyl halides or from monofunctionally reactive alcohols, such as derivable from the radicals listed under R¹, or from mesylates or tosylates thereof, the synthesis of these reaction components being assumed to be generally known.

Thus, for example, phenols or thiophenols of the formulae (IV), (V) or (VI) can be linked to hydroxy compounds in the presence of triphenylphosphine/azodicarboxylic diester (Mitsunobu reaction, for example in J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1 1975, 461). The alkali metal salts or alkaline earth metal salts of these mesogenic hydroxy compounds or mercapto compounds produced separately or as intermediates can also be reacted with halogen compounds, toluene sulfonyloxy compounds or methylsulfonyloxy compounds (Williamson reaction, for example in Patai, The Chemistry of the Ether Linkage, Interscience Publishers, New York 1967, p. 446-468). Phenols or thiophenols of the formulae (II), (III) or (IV) can also be reacted with carboxylic acids such as derivable from R¹ under condensation conditions (for example, March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 3rd Ed., Wiley Interscience, New York 1985, p. 240, 348-353) or under the conditions of the Williamson reaction to give esters or thioesters. Analogously, this is also possible using mesogenic carboxylic acids (S¹ /S² is COOH) and the hydroxy compounds derived from R¹.

The compounds of the formula (I) can also be obtained by coupling, for example, 2-alkyl- or 2-alkoxy-5-pyridinyl boronic acids--prepared, for example, according to "Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie (Methods of Organic Chemistry), vol. 13/3a, p. 635-647" or "Basil J. Wakefield, The Chemistry of Organolithium Compounds, Pergamon Press 1974--organometallically, for example according to Tetrahedron 28, 5093 (1987) or Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 204, 91 (1991) or J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. II 1989, 2041.

The coupling of pyrimidine boronic acids with bromopyridine compounds by the essentially same methodology may also be possible.

The invention furthermore relates to a liquid-crystalline, in particular a ferroelectric, mixture comprising 2 to 20, preferably 2 to 15 components, the mixture containing at least one compound of the formula (II). The other constituents are preferably selected from the known compounds exhibiting nematic, cholesteric and/or tilted smectic phases. These include, for example, Schiff bases, biphenyls, terphenyls, phenylcyclohexanes, cyclohexylbiphenyls, pyrimidines, cinnamic esters, cholesterol esters and polynuclear esters of p-alkylbenzoic acids having a polar end group.

The liquid crystal mixtures in general contain 0.1 to 70 mol %, preferably 0.5 to 50 mol %, in particular 1 to 40 mol %, of the compound(s) according to the invention.

Moreover, the invention relates to an electrooptical switching and display device containing baseplates, a liquid crystal medium, electrodes, at least one orientation layer and, if desired, polarizers and further auxiliaries, which device contains a mixture according to the invention as described above as the liquid crystal medium.

The spontaneous polarization P_(S) [nC/cm² ], optical response time τ[μS] and effective switching angle Θ_(eff) [^(o) ] values of the ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures were determined as follows:

The P_(S) values were measured by the method of H. Diamant et al. [Rev. Sci. Instr. 28, 30 (1957)] in which measurement cells having an electrode spacing of 2 μm and rubbed polyimide as the orientation layer are used. To determine T and Θ_(eff), the measurement cell is mounted on the revolving stage of a polarizing microscope between crossed analyzer and polarizer. The position of the stage at which light transmission is at a minimum for both switching states in the cell is determined by revolving the stage. The difference between the two positions on the revolving stage is twice the effective tilting angle. The switching time T is determined by means of a photodiode by measuring the rise time of the light signal from 10 to 90% of signal height. The switching voltage is composed of square pulses and is ±10 V/μm. The phase transition temperatures are determined during heating by observing the changes in texture by means of a polarizing microscope. In contrast, the melting point was determined by means of a DSC instrument. The phase transition temperatures between the phases

nematic (N or N*)

smectic C (S_(c) or S_(c) *)

smectic A (S_(A) or S_(A) *)

crystalline (X or C)

are given in °C., these values being written between the phase designations in the phase sequence.

Example 1

Synthesis of 2-(6-octyloxypyrid-3-yl)-5-octyloxypyrimidine ##STR11##

52 g (400 mmol) of octanol in 150 ml of dioxane are added dropwise to 12 g (400 mmol) of 80% NaH in 30 ml of dry dioxane at 70° C. After refluxing for 2 hours, 55 g (300 mmol) of ethyl 6-chloronicotinate in 1150 ml of dioxane are added dropwise, and the reaction solution is refluxed for another 5 hours. The solution is poured onto 400 ml of ice water, the phases are separated, and the aqueous phase is extracted several times with ether. The combined organic phases are washed with saturated common salt solution, dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The product is purified by chromatography on silica gel.

55.8 g of 6-octyloxynicotinic ester are added to 500 ml of concentrated ammonia solution with stirring. The mixture is allowed to stand overnight, the precipitate is filtered off with suction and washed with a small amount of water. The mother liquor is evaporated to a large extent, as a result of which further product precipitates. It is recrystallized from water.

45 g (180 mmol) of 6-octyloxynicotinamide and 41.4 g (270 mmol) of phosphorus oxychloride are heated at 125° to 130° C. for 2 hours. The mixture is concentrated in vacuo, and the residue is covered with a layer of 250 ml of chloroform. 450 ml of concentrated sodium carbonate solution are added with vigorous stirring. After stirring for 10 minutes, the phases are separated, and the aqueous one is extracted several times with chloroform. The combined organic phases are washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product is purified by chromatography on silica gel. 21.8 g (100 mmol) of 6-octyloxynicotinonitrile and 6.42 g (200 mmol) of absolute methanol are initially introduced into 200 ml of dioxane. At 0° C., hydrogen chloride is introduced until saturation is reached. The mixture is allowed to stand at 0° C. overnight and then filtered on an inert gas. The precipitate is dried at 50 ° C. in vacuo over KOH. 30.1 g (100 mmol) of methyl 6-octyloxynicotinimidate suspended in 300 ml of EtOH are added to 110 ml of ethanol saturated at 20° C. with ammonia. The mixture is stirred at 60° C. for 2.5 hours and at room temperature overnight. The reaction solution is evaporated almost to dryness, and the residue is stirred with ether. The precipitate is filtered off with suction and dried in vacuo. 0.92 g (40 mmol) of Na are dissolved in 30 ml of ethanol. 5.46 g (24 mmol) of 2-octyloxy-3-dimethylaminoacrolein in 10 ml of ethanol are added dropwise at room temperature, and 5.7 g (20 mmol) of the 6-octyloxynicotinamidine hydrochloride are added in portions. The mixture is refluxed for 20 hours. The pH is adjusted to 3, the mixture is concentrated, taken up in 50 ml of water and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The end product is chromatographed on silica gel using dichloromethane and recrystallized from hexane. The product exhibits the following phase sequence: X 58 S_(C) 60S_(A) 95.3I.

Example 2

Synthesis of (2S,3S)-3-butyloxiran-2-yl methyl 2-(6-octyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-yl ether ##STR12##

Preparation of the octyloxypyridinamidine hydrochloride and condensation with 2-benzyloxy-3-dimethylaminoacrolein are carried out analogously to Example 1.

1.96 g (5 mmol) of 5-benzyloxy-2-(6-octyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine are hydrogenated in 40 ml of THF in the presence of a spatula tip-full of para-toluenesulfonic acid and 200 mg of 10% palladium (on activated carbon). The mixture is filtered through Coriolite, concentrated in vacuo, taken up in 50 ml of dichloromethane and washed with 20 ml of water. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is recrystallized from petroleum ether. 1.36 g (4.5 mmol) of 5-hydroxy-2-(6-octyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine in 10 ml of DMF are added dropwise to 240 mg (8 mmol) of 80% NaH in 5 ml of DMF. 1.03 g (5 mmol) of (2S,3S)-3-butyloxiran-2-yl methyl methanesulfonate in 10 ml of DMF are then added, and the mixture is stirred at 60° C. for 1 hour. The reaction solution is hydrolyzed in 50 ml of saturated citric acid solution. The organic phase is separated off, and the aqueous one is extracted three times with dichloromethane. The combined organic phases are washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product is chromatographed on silica gel using dichloromethane and recrystallized from heptane. 1.1 g (60% yield). The pure product exhibits the following phase sequence:

X 72 (38S_(c) * 42) S_(A) * 105 I.

[α]_(D) =-16.6° (c=1.7, CHCl₃).

Example 3

Synthesis of 2-(6-octyloxypyridin-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-yl trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxylate ##STR13##

0.21 g (1 mmol) of trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 0.30 g (1 mmol) of 5-hydroxy-2-(6-octyloxypyridin-3-yl)pyrimidine (for preparation see Example 2) and 0.01 g (0.1 mmol) of 4-dimethylaminopyridine are added to 0.21 g (1 mmol) of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in 4 ml of dichloromethane, and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for one night. It is then filtered, the residue is washed witch a small amount of dichloromethane, and the filtrate is concentrated. Chromatography of the residue on silica gel using 5:1 hexane/ethyl acetate and repeated chromatography on silica gel using dichloromethane and crystallization from hexane give 0.22 g (73% yield) of the desired product exhibiting the phase sequence: X 112 S_(A) 195 I.

Example 4 ##STR14##

Preparation of the ethyloxypyridinamidine hydrochloride and condensation with 2-benzyloxy-3-dimethylaminoacrolein are carried out analogously to Example 1.

0.22 g (1 mmol) of 5-hydroxy-2-(6-ethyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine is dissolved in 3 ml of DMF, and the resulting solution is added dropwise to 60 mg (2 mmol) of 80% NaH in 2 ml of DMF. 0.22 g (1.33 mmol) of bromohexane in 4 ml of DMF is then added dropwise, and the mixture is stirred at 60° C. for 2 hours. The reaction solution is poured into 10 ml of H₂ O, the mixture is extracted 3 times with dichloromethane, the organic phases are washed with saturated NaCl solution and H₂ O, dried with MgSO₄ and concentrated. The crude product is chromatographed on SiO₂ using 5:1 hexane/ethyl acetate and recrystallized from hexane.

    X 69 S.sub.A 95 I

Example 5 ##STR15##

Analogously to Example 2, 5-hydroxy-2-(6-octyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine is reacted with 8-cyclopropylbromooctane to give 8-cyclopropyloctyl 2-(6-octyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-yl ether

    X 78 S.sub.C S.sub.A 85 I

Example 6 ##STR16##

Analogously to Example 5 from 5-hydroxy-2-(6-ethyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine and bromodecane

    X 54 S.sub.A 100 I

Example 7 ##STR17##

Analogously to Example 5 from 5-hydroxy-2-(6-ethyloxy-pyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine and bromododecane

    X 57 S.sub.A 98 I

Example 8 ##STR18##

Prepared analogously to Example 3 from 5-hydroxy-2-(6-ethyloxypyridin-3-yl)pyrimidine and trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid

    X 128 S.sub.A 199 N 210 I

Example 9 ##STR19##

Preparation of 6-hexyloxy-3-pyridineamidine hydrochloride and condensation with 2-benzyloxy-3-dimethylaminoacrolein are carried out analogously to Example 1, and alkylation of 5-hydroxy-2-(6-hexyloxypyridin-3-yl)pyrimidine is carried out analogously to Example 5. Finally, the product is recrystallized from heptane.

    X 54 S.sub.C 82 S.sub.A 97 I

Example 10 ##STR20##

Prepared analogously to Example 9 from 5-hydroxy-2-(6-hexyloxypyridin-3-yl)pyrimidine and bromohexane.

    X 48 S.sub.A 95 I

Example 11 ##STR21##

Prepared analogously to Example 9 from 5-hydroxy-2-(6-hexyloxypyridin-3-yl)pyrimidine and 8-cyclopropylbromooctane

    X 58 S.sub.C 76 S.sub.A 85 I

Example 12 ##STR22##

Prepared analogously to Example 9 from 5-hydroxy-2-(6-hexyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine and 7,7-dimethyl-7-silabromoundecane

    X 24 S.sub.C 28 I N.N.

Example 13 ##STR23##

Prepared analogously to Example 8 from 5-hydroxy-2-(6-hexyloxypyridin-3-yl)pyrimidine and trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid

    X 114 S.sub.A 201 I

Example 14 ##STR24##

Prepared analogously to Example 1 from 6-octyloxynicotinamidine hydrochloride and (S)-2-[4-(6-methyloctyloxy)phenyl]-1-dimethylamino-3-dimethylaminopropanoperchlorate.

    X 76 S.sub.C *171 S.sub.A *180 I

Example 15 ##STR25##

A solution of 7.2 g (55.3 mmol) of 1-octanol in 20 ml of DMF is added dropwise to a suspension of 1.38 g of NaH (80%) in 10 ml DMF which had been heated to 50° C. The reaction solution is heated at 80° C. for 90 minutes. A solution of 10 g (42 mmol) of 2,5-dibromopyridine in 35 ml of DMF is then added dropwise at this temperature. The reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. for another 6 hours. The solution is poured onto 200 ml of ice water, the resulting mixture is extracted 4 times with dichloromethane, the combined organic phases are dried, and the solvent is distilled off. The product 2-octyloxy-5-bromopyridine is purified by chromatography on silica gel using 7:1 heptane/ethyl acetate.

Analogously to the above procedure, 5.95 g of 2,5-dibromopyrimidine are reacted with 7.9 g of 1-octanol to give 2-octyloxy-5-bromopyrimidine. The product is purified by chromatography on silica gel.

2.75 g (10 mmol) of 2-octyloxy-5-bromopyridine are dissolved in 60 ml of absolute diethyl ether, and the solution is cooled to -75° C. under inert gas. 16 mmol of 1.6M butyllithium solution in hexane are added, and the mixture is additionally stirred at -75° C. for 15 minutes. 4.5 g of triisopropylborate in 50 ml of absolute diethyl ether are then added dropwise. The cooling device is then removed. After the batch has warmed to room temperature, 50 ml of 10% HCl are added, and the mixture is additionally stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. The phases are separated, and the organic phase is washed twice with saturated NaCl solution. The solvent is distilled off in vacuo, and the residue is recrystallized from acetonitrile, giving 6-octyloxypyridine-3-boronic acid.

1.36 g (5.42 mmol) of 6-octyloxypyridine-3-boronic acid and 1.30 g (4.52 mmol) of 2-octyloxy-5-bromopyrimidine are introduced with stirring into a mixture of 39 ml of benzene, 26 ml of ethanol and 13 ml of water. 1.15 g (10.85 mmol) of Na₂ CO₃ and 50 mg of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) are added with stirring. The reaction mixture is refluxed for 5 hours. Undissolved material is filtered off, the residue is washed with ethanol, and the solvent is removed from the filtrate. The product is purified by chromatography on silica gel.

    X 64 S.sub.C 67 S.sub.A 91 I

Example 16 ##STR26##

Prepared analogously to Example 15 from 2-(9-decenyloxy)-5-bromopyridine and 6-octyloxypyridine-3-boronic acid.

    X 60 S.sub.C 65 S.sub.A 80 I N.N.

Example 17 ##STR27##

Prepared analogously to Example 15 from 2-(9-decenyloxy)-5-bromopyrimidine and 6-hexyloxypyridine-3-boronic acid.

    X 53 S.sub.A 81 I N.N.

Use Example 1

Ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture

A ferroelectric mixture comprising the components

    ______________________________________                                         5-octyloxy-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                              22.8    mol %                                          5-octyloxy-2-(4-butyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                              24      mol %                                          5-octyloxy-2-(4-decyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                              19.2    mol %                                          5-octyloxy-2-(4-octyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                              10.5    mol %                                          4'-(5-decylpyrimidine-2-yl)phenyl trans-4-                                                             13.5    mol %                                          pentylcyclohexanecarboxylate                                                   (2S,3S)-3-butyloxiran-2-ylmethyl 2-(6-                                                                 10      mol %                                          octyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidin-5-yl ether                                        ______________________________________                                    

is prepared. It exhibits the following liquid-crystalline phase ranges:

    S.sub.C *81 S.sub.A *98 N*103 I

and has a spontaneous polarization of 6.8 nC/cm at a temperature of 20° C. and a switching time of 250 μs at a field strength of 10 V/μm.

Comparative Example III

Compared with the above mixture, the liquid-crystalline mixture described in DE 3,831,226.3, which only differs from the abovementioned mixture by not containing (2S,3S)-3-butyloxiran-2-ylmethyl 2-(6-octyloxypyrid-3-yl)pyrimidine-5-yl ether, exhibits the following phase ranges:

    S.sub.C *84 S.sub.A *93N*105 I

The addition of the compound according the invention leads to a broadening of the S_(A) * phase range.

This example documents that the compounds according to the invention are suitable for use in ferroelectric mixtures because, inter alia, as doping substances they lead to short switching times. Moreover, these components are highly compatible with phenylpyrimidines.

Use Example 2

A binary mixture comprising

A 45 mol % of 2-(4-octyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine-5-yl heptanoate

    (phases sequence: X 69 S.sub.C 65 N 89 I) and

B 55 mol % of the compound according to the invention: 2-(octyloxypyridin-5-yl)octyloxypyrimidine is prepared. It exhibits the phases:

    X 62 S.sub.C 71 S.sub.A 85 N 88 I

The addition of the compound (B) according to the invention leads to an improved mixture having a lower melting point.

Moreover, in contrast to the starting component (A), this mixture exhibits an S_(A) phase which, in ferroelectric mixtures, is necessary for good orientation of the mixture when filling the display. Surprisingly, the novel compounds according to the invention are capable of inducing an S_(A) phase in the mixtures.

Use Example 3

A binary mixture comprising:

C 62.5 mol % of 2-(4-octyloxyphenyl)pyrimidin-5-yl heptanoate and

    (phase sequence: X 69 S.sub.C 65 N 89 I)

D 37.5 mol % of the compound according to the invention: 2-(octyloxypyridin-5-yl)-5-octyloxypyrimidine is prepared.

It exhibits the phases:

    X 54 S.sub.C 70 N 91 I

The addition of the compound (D) according to the invention leads to an improved mixture having a substantially lower melting point.

The compounds according to the invention are particularly suitable for lowering the melting point in a mixture with phenylpyrimidines.

Use Example 4

A liquid crystal mixture comprising the components

    ______________________________________                                         5-octyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 20.9    mol %                                          5-octyl-2-(4-decyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 13.9    mol %                                          5-decyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 13.6    mol %                                          5-octyl-2-(4'-(7"-cyclopropylheptyloxy)-                                                               11.4    mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              5-octyl-2-(4'-(6"-cyclopropylhexylcarbonyl-                                                            14.0    mol %                                          oxy)phenyl)pyrimidine                                                          5-(8'''-cyclopropyloctyloxy)-2-(4'-(4"-trans-                                                          16.2    mol %                                          pentylcyclohexyl)phenyl)pyrimidine                                             2-(6-hexyloxypyrid-3-yl)-5-(8-cyclopropyl-                                                             10.0    mol %                                          octyloxy)pyrimidine                                                            ______________________________________                                    

exhibits the following liquid-crystalline phase ranges:

    X-10.6 S.sub.C 62 S.sub.A 77 N 81 I

Compared with the above mixture, the liquid-crystalline mixture which only differs from the abovementioned mixture by not containing the latter compound (according to the invention), exhibits

    X-0.5 S.sub.C 63 S.sub.A 72 N 81 I

The addition of the compound according to the invention leads to a lowering of the melting point. The broadening of the S_(A) phase facilitates orientation of the liquid crystal mixture in an electrooptical display element.

Use Example 5

A liquid crystal mixture comprising the components

    ______________________________________                                         5-octyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 14.6    mol %                                          5-octyl-2-(4-decyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 9.7     mol %                                          5-decyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 9.4     mol %                                          5-octyl-2-(4'-(7"-cyclopropylheptyloxy)                                                                7.9     mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              5-octyl-2-(4'-(6"cyclopropylhexylcarbonyloxy                                                           9.8     mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              5-(8'''-cyclopropyloctyloxy)-2-(4'-(4"-trans-                                                          11.3    mol %                                          pentylcyclohexyl)phenyl)pyrimidine                                             4'-(5-(8"-cyclopropyloctyl)pyrimidin-2-                                                                7.0     mol %                                          yl)phenyl trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxy-                                    late                                                                           5-(5"-cyclopropylpentyloxy)-2-(4'-hexyloxy-                                                            10.4    mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              2-(4'-hexylphenyl)-5-(4"-(4'''-cyclopropyl-                                                            9.9     mol %                                          butyloxy)phenyl)pyrimidine                                                     5-(6-octylpyridin-3-yl)-2-(9-decenyloxy)-                                                              10.0    mol %                                          pyrimidine                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

exhibits the following liquid-crystalline phase ranges:

    X-7 S.sub.c 69 S.sub.A 84 N 93 I

Use Example 6

A liquid crystal mixture comprising the components

    ______________________________________                                         5-octyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 14.6    mol %                                          5-octyl-2-(4-decyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 9.7     mol %                                          5-decyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                 9.4     mol %                                          5-octyl-2-(4'-(7"-cyclopropylheptyloxy)                                                                7.9     mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              5-octyl-2-(4'-(6"cyclopropylhexylcarbonyloxy)                                                          9.8     mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              5-(8'''-cyclopropyloctyloxy)-2-(4'-(4"-trans-                                                          11.3    mol %                                          pentylcyclohexyl)phenyl)pyrimidine                                             4'-(5-(8"-cyclopropyloctyl)pyrimidin-2-                                                                7.0     mol %                                          yl)phenyl trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxy-                                    late                                                                           5-(5"-cyclopropylpentyloxy)-2-(4'-hexyloxy-                                                            10.4    mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              2-(4'-hexylphenyl)-5-(4"-(4'''-cyclopropyl-                                                            9.9     mol %                                          butyloxy)phenyl)pyrimidine                                                     5-(6-octyloxypyridine-3-yl)-2-octyloxy-                                                                10.0    mol %                                          pyrimidine                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

exhibits the following liquid-crystalline phase ranges:

    X-7 S.sub.C 69 S.sub.A 83 N 94 I

A liquid crystal mixture which only differs from the two last-mentioned mixtures by not containing the last compound according to the invention exhibits the phase ranges:

    X-4 S.sub.C 72 S.sub.A 80 N 96 I

The addition of the compound according to the invention, apart from leading to a lowering of the melting point, results in an advantageous broadening of the S_(A) phase range.

Use Example 7

A mixture comprising the components

    ______________________________________                                         5-heptyl-2-(4-pentyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                               13.8    mol %                                          5-heptyl-2-(4-heptyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                               9.2     mol %                                          5-heptyl-2-(4-butyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine                                                                14.8    mol %                                          5-(6"-cyclopropylhexyloxy)-2-(4'-octyloxy-                                                             14.0    mol %                                          phenyl)pyrimidine                                                              (trans-4-pentylcyclohexylmethyloxy)-5-                                                                 6.4     mol %                                          (8"-cyclopropyloctyloxy)pyrimidin-2-yl-                                        phenyl [sic]                                                                   5-(8"-cyclopropyloctyl)pyrimidin-2-yl-                                                                 11.1    mol %                                          phenyl trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxylate                                    5-octyl-2-(4'-(6"-cyclopropylhexyl-                                                                    20.7    mol %                                          carbonyloxy)phenyl)pyrimidine                                                  2-(6-hexyloxypyrid-3-yl)-S-hexyloxy-                                                                   10.0    mol %                                          pyrimidine                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

exhibits the following liquid-crystalline phase ranges:

    X 2.1 S.sub.C 54 S.sub.A 73 N 91 I

compared with the above mixture, the liquid-crystalline mixture which only differs from the abovementioned mixture by not containing a compound according to the invention exhibits the following phase ranges:

    X 3.4 S.sub.C 61 N 92 I

This comparison shows that the addition of even a small amount of the compound according to the invention can produce an S_(A) phase in liquid-crystalline mixtures while simultaneously lowering the melting point. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pyridylpyrimidine compound of the formula I ##STR28## in which A is N and B is CH or A is CH and B is N,C is N and D is CH or C is CH and D is N, R¹ is straight-chain or branched (chiral or achiral) alkyl having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, it also being possible for one or two non-adjacent --CH₂ -- groups to be replaced by --O--, --S--, --CO--, --CO--O--, --O--CO-- or --O--CO--O-- and it also being possible for one H to be replaced by F, or is one of the following radicals OCF₃, OCHF₂, ##STR29## or R¹⁰ --E--M--, with the proviso that if A is N, must not be R¹ must not be linked with the pyrimidine via a --CO--O-- or O--CO--O-- group, R² is identical to R¹, with the proviso that if D is N, the radicals R¹ linked to the pyridine ring via an O--CO-- or an --O--CO--O-- group are excluded, X¹, X² are F, Cl, CN, n,m, identical or different, are zero, 1 or 2, R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ are H, straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in which a --CH₂ -- group not adjacent to the linkage point can also be replaced by --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO-- or R³ and R⁴ or R⁵ and R⁶ together are cyclic alkyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹ are straight-chain or branched alkyl having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in which one or two non-adjacent --CH₂ -- groups can also be replaced by --O--, --CO--O-- or --O--CO--, with the proviso that silicon is only bound to a carbon which has hydrogen and/or carbon as neighboring atoms, or are cyclic alkyl having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, or together with silicon can also be ##STR30## G is straight-chain or branched alkylene having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or alkenylene having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, in which one or two non-adjacent --CH₂ -- groups can also be replaced by --O--, --S--, --O--CO--, --CO--O--, --S--CO-- or --CO--S--, R¹⁰ is identical to R¹ but is not R¹⁰ --E--M and without the abovementioned proviso for R¹, E is 1,4-phenylene in which 1 or 2 H can also be replaced by F, Cl and/or CN, trans-1,4-cyclohexylene in which 1 or 2 H can also be replaced by F, Cl, CN and/or CH₃, pyrazine-2,5-diyl, pyridazine-3,6-diyl, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-diyl, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl or 1,3-dithiane-2,5-diyl; M is --CO--O--, --O--CO--, --CO--S--, --S--CO--, --CH₂ O--, --O--CH₂ --, --C═C, --CH═CH-- or a single bond, o is an integer from 3 to
 8. 2. A pyridylpyrimidine as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the formula (I) R¹ and R², identical or different, are linear or branched alkyl, alkyloxy or alkyldimethylsilylalkyl(oxy) or one of the chiral substituents listed in claim
 1. 3. A pyridylpyrimidine as claimed in claim 1, having the formula (II), (III) or (IIIa), ##STR31## R¹ and R² having the meanings given in claim
 1. 4. A liquid crystalline mixture composed of at least two components, wherein the mixture contains at least one pyridylpyrimidine compound of the formula (I) as claimed in claim
 1. 5. A liquid-crystalline mixture as claimed in claim 4, which is ferroelectric.
 6. A liquid-crystalline mixture as claimed in claim 4, which is nematic. 